Sanctuary by Rowena Cory Daniells

Author:Rowena Cory Daniells
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy
Publisher: Solaris
Published: 2012-08-31T21:15:24+00:00

EXHAUSTED, IMOSHEN WAS about to climb into her bunk when Kiane came to her.

‘Ardonyx is here to speak with you,’ she whispered. ‘I don’t know why these brothers think they can come to you at all hours of the night.’

‘If I’m their causare, they can call on me whenever they need me.’ Her hand-of-force still saw the T’En divided into brotherhood and sisterhood.

As Imoshen threw on her cloak and boots, she projected a calm she did not feel. She hurried out to the deck. ‘Ardonyx?’

‘Causare.’ Ardonyx gave the obeisance of supplication. He was pale and he moved with a limp.

‘Valendia needs a healer, desperately. Can you –’

‘Of course.’ Imoshen gestured to Kiane. ‘Run down to All-mother Reoden. Tell her I need her help urgently.’

As soon as Kiane left them, Imoshen reached out to Ardonyx. Trusting to the fog to hide them, she cupped his face in her hands, kissing his bruised cheek and split lip. She could tell both of them had drained their gifts, but it was a relief to hold him.

‘What happened?’

‘Kyredeon’s supporters broke the sanctity of the challenge.’ Ardonyx’s voice caught and she could feel his whole body trembling. ‘Half the brotherhood is dead. It was carnage.’

Imoshen’s mind raced. ‘If the T’En contingent of your brotherhood has been halved, it throws out the balance between the all-fathers. Dretsun is already too cocky and Saskeyne burns with ambition.’ Her mind raced. ‘You sheltered All-father Tamaron’s people on your ship?’

‘Yes. Kyredeon cursed us for burdening him with more mouths to feed.’

‘Tamaron is dead. You’ve housed his people, fed them and protected them. They’re yours. Have Tobazim take their vows of fealty.’

‘Imoshen...’ He shook his head, a rueful smile on his lips. Her heart turned over. She loved him so much, yet she hardly ever saw him. ‘This is internal brotherhood business. The decision should go to an all-father-council.’

‘So they can argue over who gets the survivors and stir up dissent?’ She shook her head. ‘If Tobazim swears them in, your brotherhood remains in the ranks of the great brotherhoods. The balance is preserved. Paragian and Hueryx are not fools. They’ll see the benefit of keeping Dretsun’s wings clipped.’ She tilted her head. ‘That’s Ree’s voice. Come on.’

By the time they reached the brotherhood ship, the fog was beginning to lift. When Imoshen climbed aboard, she’d thought she was prepared, but the sight of Malaunje mopping the blood from the deck and the T’En bodies laid out in rows still shocked her.

Kiane shook her head. ‘This is why you needed an escort.’

Her hand-of-force had insisted that she and two gift-warriors accompany the causare and the healer. They followed Reoden and Ardonyx up the steps to the rear-deck, where Tobazim knelt next to Graelen and his devotee, holding a blood-soaked cloth over Valendia’s wound. A young initiate supported Graelen.

The brotherhood’s saw-bones met Imoshen and the healer. ‘Tobazim’s gift is drained from the challenge.’ He gestured to the young initiate. ‘Athlyn’s been sustaining Graelen and Valendia. Grae can’t hold on much longer.

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